Sorry this is overdue, exams have started and I'm snowed under with revision and stuff. Anyway here is the last proper chapter before the epilogue. Hope you enjoy it and as always R&R!


Chapter 45

For minutes all Rosie could do was stare at her diseased co-worker's daughter in shock. Her mind went into overdrive as she desperately tried to figure out what to do but nothing was making sense. Giving up on making a plan she turned to trying to evaluate the situation. So far all she had was Daren Hammer plus Olivia Crichton plus an old warehouse plus Dr Conners work plus an unknown machine equals chaos and destruction. Quickly shaking herself back to reality Rosie turned to glare at Daren.

"Right what's going on?! What the hell is she doing in that?!" Rosie cried. Daren chuckled as he leant against the side of the machine. Smirking he ran a hand through his light brown hair before flicking his head to the side.

"You know for a Stark you're not very smart. Are you sure he's your Father? I mean you don't look much like him," Daren slurred.

"He's my Dad!" she snarled, "Now just tell me what the fuck is going on?"

"Fine I'll tell you again, you're here to see my newest invention inspired by the brilliantly mad Doc Conners. The lovely Olivia here is going to be test subject," he explained coolly. Scowling Rosie took her katanas out from their holds pointing the one in her left hand at Daren. Not taking her eyes off the boy she moved to address Olivia.

"Olivia, get out the machine," she ordered calmly. As soon as the order left her mouth the smirk grew on Daren's face. Something about the smirk managed to unhinge Rosie slightly. All Daren saw was a slight intake of breath but that was enough for him. They knew each other too well. During their short time in high school together they learnt everything they could about the other so if the time, much like now, came they could exploit the others weaknesses. Olivia and Jayden won't be able to tell that Daren's smirked had unhinged the superhero but to Daren it was as clear as day. Grinning he glared back at Rosie.

"No." Olivia said simply. This put an end to the staring contest between the two. Gasping Rosie looked to Olivia wide eyed. No? Did she just say no? This wasn't good. By defying Rosie that meant she was complying with Hammer. What had made this sudden change in Olivia? When they'd first met Olivia was nothing less than an Avengers fangirl. Rosie had thought that this hadn't changed but apparently she was wrong. If she still was as obsessed with the Avengers as she had been then she would have left the machine in a heartbeat or at least explained that she couldn't. This may be a problem. Lowering her katana she turned completely to Olivia.

"What do you mean no?" Rosie asked shocked.

"I'm going to become stronger and get my revenge for you steeling my boyfriend," Olivia cried. Rosie looked at her with narrow eyes. Steeling her boyfriend? Steeling Jayden? That didn't make any sense Jayden and here had been out of contact for months until previously. Before she could even begin to protest Jayden called out behind her.

"Rosie move! He's got a gun!" Jayden called weakly. Snapping to attention Rosie forward rolled out the way just as a bullet flew over her head. Cursing under her breath she jumped to attention to glare at Hammer. She'd made a rookie mistake, taken her eyes off the real threat. If it wasn't for Jayden she'd be dead right now. Growling at her mistake she didn't take her eyes off her rival who had trained the gun at her again. She wouldn't make the same mistake twice. Preparing to move again she heard Olivia call out.

"Start it up!" she squealed. Quickly looking to Olivia out the corner of her eyes Rosie felt her heart clench up. This wasn't good. As quickly as she could she sprinted towards Hammer who had moved to the control panel. Before she could even get close to him a blast of air knocked her off her feet, sending her flying through the air. Hitting the warehouse doors she collapsed onto the floor. Groaning she rolled onto her side only to see the machine burst into life. Gripping her katanas tighter she pushed herself up. Hearing Jayden call her name she looked round to see him crawling towards her. Instantly she held up her hand, stopping him in his place.

"No, you're injured stay where you are! I can handle this!" she cried.

"I don't think you can Ro, not like this," he hissed in pain. Jayden's eyes roamed over her checking to make sure she wasn't injured. Knowing he was right Rosie's hand flew to her left wrist only to find it hit her catsuit. The rubbery material under her fingers caused her heart to clench up. She wasn't wearing her bracelet. She can't call her suit or for help. Fear coursing through her body she listened to Olivia's pain filled screams began to fill the warehouse. Looking back to Jaydon she did her best to keep her fear hidden from him.

"I don't have a choice," she looked to him. Jayden's head dropped before her looked to the machine his now ex-girlfriend was strapped to. Trying to kill a man was a good way to break up with them. Rosie watched the boy in front of her carefully sickened by the blood that caked his clothes. That blood was her fault. If she'd just done what she was meant to in Budapest and killed him she couldn't have spared him all this pain. Yet she'd saved his life, dragged him onto the dangerous rollercoaster she called her life. Each drop of blood he lost was because of her and it almost hurt her.

"What's happening to her?" Jayden whispered looking to the machine at the other side of the warehouse. Rosie followed his eyes to see Olivia's body writhing in pain. The sight was something out of a nightmare yet it was an all too familiar sight. Slowly her body began to change, grow larger as well as what looked spiked grow and as her skin began to change colour.

"She's changing," she muttered.

"Into what?" Jayden asked.

"I have no idea," Rosie groaned. Jumping up she raced into the warehouse floor into the wind that was being produced by the machine in an effort to keep it cool. Barely managing to keep up straight she heard the sound of ripping metal. Freezing up she looked to see a something coming towards her.

"What have you done?!" Rosie screamed. Rosie looked to the thing in front of her. No, this can't be happening! Why would someone want to turn themselves into that!

"I'll be a great! Just like you! With this power I'll be unstoppable!" they screeched.

"It's not the power that makes you a great! It's who you are inside and what you chose to do with it!" Rosie screamed as wind started to pick up. Where it was coming from she didn't know.

"You're trying to ruin me! Just like he said! How could you? I looked up to you!" they screeched.

"He's a liar! He's using you!" she shouted over the winds.

"LIES!" they screeched just as a fire ball shot at Rosie. Diving out the way Rosie froze in place. She was having a serious case of deja vu. That's when it clicked. That woman from Thor and Jane's reception in Asgard, the one that gave her the odd vision had been warning her about this she'd given her the chance for her to prepare for this. Rosie tensed up unable to move. She should have seen this coming! She was faintly aware of Jayden screaming for her to move but Rosie couldn't move. It was in this moment that the final piece fell into place. It was like a weight had been lifted.

"ROSIE MOVE!" Jayden screamed at the top of his lungs. This was enough to snap her out of her thoughts. Jumping to the side she looked round to see Olivia or what used to be. Instead of the girl she'd once known there was an eight foot monstrosity straight from a nightmare. Olivia's once plain skill was now dark red, her body misshapen, a pair of thin wings sticking from her back. All Rosie could do was stumble backwards shaking her head furiously from side to side.

"You did this… You did this! You've destroyed her life and for what?!" Rosie screamed. Her voice shook rage seeping into it. This was a new low even for a Hammer.

"Oh I think you know, to kill you of course. You may act like a hero, the press may call you a rising hero but I see you for what you truly are. A bug that needs to be exterminated," Daren laughed.

"You manipulated her! You used her! What lies did you feed her?! No! I don't want to know. Everything that's been happening has been your fault! Yuki being shot, the Helicarrier bombing, my attempted then eventual kidnapping, Skye being blamed for it all, the letter sent to Clint about Nat, the Avengers turning into toddlers, the Hydra attack in Edinburgh, the death of two of my friends and now this! I have to admit you were sly manipulating others to do your work for you! Weapon X! The Rising Tide! Hydra! They were all pawns to you and Olivia's no different!" Rosie screeched. At this Daren just chucked his head back laughing. This only made Rosie glare at him confusion written on her face.

"It took you a while but you finally caught on. Olivia kill her please, oh and make it quick you only have five minutes before this place blows sky high. This is our final goodbye Stark, it's been a pleasure fighting with you," Daren smirked. Waving at her over her shoulder he left the warehouse. At his words Rosie began to panic. He was going to blow the place up in five minutes. There was no way she could take Olivia down in five minutes let alone get herself and an injured Jayden out in time. Things weren't looking so good. The only way they were getting out of this alive if she could talk her way out of it and quickly.

Before she could even open her mouth to speak Olivia went to attack her again. Desperately Rosie put her katanas back in their holds before holding her hands out to her. At the sight Olivia froze her demon like claw meters away from her face.

"No! No! There's no point! Olivia listen to me please! You heard him! You're a pawn to him! I don't know what he told you but he doesn't care! He's proved it; this place is going to blow in five minutes whether you're in here or not!" Rosie screamed desperately. Olivia went to attack her again but before she could Jayden hobbled in front.

"O-oliva don't!" he hissed weakly. Jayden collapsed slightly but Rosie grabbed onto him holding his back against her chest.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing you idiot?! I told you to stay put!" Rosie scolded. Jayden laughed looking round at her his bloody and bruised face. A shit eating grin formed on his face but Rosie could see the pain he was trying so hard to mask.

"And let you die without me? No way," he smirked. Rosie glared at him. Now was not the time to be making jokes about things like this. Some people found laughing in the face of death easier, Jayden one of them, but not her. No she preferred to glare at it before fighting with all she's worth, which isn't really an option now.

Staying silent she ignored Jayden as he desperately tried to reason with his, literally, monster of an ex. Instead of listening she began to count down the seconds. They didn't have long. About two minutes, they needed to get out now. Gritting her teeth she decided to take the cowards option and make as good a run for it as they can. Before she could even begin to move to strings shot past them. As soon as they connected with Olivia's chest electricity coursed through them causing the monster to scream in pain before collapsing to the ground. A smile formed on Rosie's face, about time he showed up.

"Spidey! Give me hand, this place is about to blow up!" Rosie screamed. As she said this Rosie began to drag him towards the masked menace who was standing in the doorway.

"Trust me I wasn't planning on sticking around!" he scowled. Pointing his wrist at Jayden he shot a web at him taking the boy from her hands. As soon as he was safely over Peter's shoulder he pointed his free arm out the door and disappeared through it. Sighing she glared at the open door. Looks like she's running. With one last glance over her shoulder at Olivia's deformed body Rosie ran as fast as her legs would take her. Gritting her teeth she pushed herself as hard as she could. It was clear that she couldn't save everyone; Olivia was one of the many she couldn't. However Jayden was definitely going to be saved meaning she had to get him to a hospital and fast.

Before she could get very far she felt something stuck onto her chest. Looking down she spotted the end of Peter's webbing on her chest. At the sight her eyes flew wide open. This wasn't going to be a pleasant experience. All she could do was grab onto the webbing before she was flying through the air for the second time that day. With a scream she landed on the ground rolling out of control only coming to a stop when she hit Peter's legs. Head spinning she stood up watching as the warehouse they'd been in minutes ago exploded. Just as the flames raced upwards a shape flew past them. Groaning in defeat she rubbed her temple that could only be one thing. Olivia. Hands on hips she watched as the shape flew upwards before racing east, away from New York

"You have got to be joking. She's still alive? You know she's gonna be after me the first chance she gets right?" Rosie grumbled.

"Well every legend needs a supervillain right? Look at me I've got plenty!" Peter laughed.

"That's not something you should be boasting about Spidey," Rosie rolled her eyes. The pair fell into silence only to have it broken seconds later.

"She kinda looks like a dragon. Maybe that should be her name! The Dragon!" he cried. Rosie rubbed her temple. She didn't have the time for his craziness this early in the morning.

"You're an ass Spidey," she grumbled. Slapping him on the back she smiled up at him. Peter didn't need her to speak to know what she was saying. She was saying thank you. Walking over to where a now unconscious Jayden was laid carefully on the ground. Sighing quickly hopped into her suit before picking him up.

"I'm going to the hospital, I'll see you around Pete," she smiled. Peter saluted back at her before lifting his arm and web flinging away.

Ten minutes later Rosie landed outside the nearest hospital. Handing Jayden to some very frightened, confused and amazed hospital staff she asked them to him to stay out of trouble when he woke up. With that she took off again arriving safely at the Tower another fifteen minutes later. Landing on the launch pad Rosie allowed the machined to take the suit off her before calmly walking inside. As soon as she was inside the door she heard someone begin to screamed.

"ROSIE MARIE VIRGINA STARK! WHERE THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'VE BEEN?! DO YOU THINK I WOULDN'T KNOW THAT YOU SNUCK OUT AT QUARTER TO TWO IN THE MORNING?! IT'S NOW TEN TO THREE! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE BEEN DOING YOUNG LADY!?" Pepper screamed. Rosie just groaned before walking towards the couch. So J.A.R.V.I.S. had ratted her out after all. Damn AI was good for nothing. Slowly and ungracefully she rolled over the back of the couch before closing her eyes.

"Rosie? Are you alright?... Is that blood?!" Pepper cried, "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Rolling onto her back Rosie began to laugh softly. Finally the dark cloud that, she hadn't realised, had been hanging over her for the past couple of months being to lift. She was finally at peace again.

"I'm great, everything's brilliant," she smiled softly.